Process of vinegar manufacture



Dec. 14 71926. 1,610,465

F. NOLDIN PROCESS OF VINEGAR MANUFACTURE Filed July 17, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l *nmum avwamtoz a r/town M Dec. 14, 1926. 1,610,465

F. NOLDIN PROCESS. OF VINEGAR MANUFACTURE Filed July 17. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 avwwboz I Frf/z NO O /II.

Qua/nu WM? r Patented Dec. 14, 1926.

UNITED STATES l,6-l:,46'5 PATENT OFFICE;

FRITZ NQLDIN, 0F SALORNO, TRENTTNO, ITALY, ASSIGNOR TO PAUL HASSACK, OF

WEEHAWKEN, NEW JERSEY.

PROCESS OF VINEGAR MANUFACTURE.

Application filed July 17, 1925, Serial No. 44,153, and in Germany May 6, 1925.

The object of the present invention is to increase the yield of acetic acid obtained from the fermentation of alcohol-containing liquids, or of liquids containing an acidproducing source, and also to preserve in full the fragrant esters which provide valu able aromatic properties in the fully oxidized product by reducing the evaporation which accompanies fermentation with any 19 of the bacterial methods now in general use in the manufacture of vinegar.

In accordance with my invention, this ob ject is effected by a novel processing which l have devised and .which enables me to carry on the fermentation'for the most part in a vessel or vessels closed from the atmosphere. The evaporation losses are thus rendered practically negligible and the acetic acid obtained closely approximates the theoretical yield.

So far as apparatus goes, the invention may be carried out in a number of ways; and in the present instance I have illustrated three such ways.

Figures 1 1 for. example, illustrate dia grammatically the different phases of my improved process when carried out in a pair of vinegargenerators connectedand equipped as I will presently describe; Figures 57 represent in a similar manner, three phases of my process carried out .in a single generator; and r Figures 8 10 illustrate the corresponding phases respectively 0f, my process in another form of single generator.

I will first describe my method with reference to the apparatus illustrated in Figures 1-4 which I- refer to asja tandem generator. This apparatus consists of two vessels orgenerators each having about twothirds of the space at the top filled with porous material of such-nature as is used in the art for supplying a firm surface for bacterial colonization and culture. This porous material, denoted by a, may be supported upona perforated false bottom 5 underneath which is the space 0 (which may be about one-third ofthe cubic capacity of the generator) for the reception of the'liquid to be oxidized. These two generators communicate at the bottom, as denoted at d, and they'are provided, each, at the top,

"with means e for admitting air, c,0m-

pressed air as we shall presently see, which may be supplied'from any suitable source,

and with vents f. They also preferably communicate at the top, as at g, and cocks are provided to control the air inlets e and the vents 7 so that when air is not being supplied to or vented from the generators they may be tightly closed from atmosphere. The communication 9 is also provided with a cock so thatthis communication too may be opened and closed at will. Whenthe apparatus has been charged and the processing is about to commence, the situation is as illustrated in Figure 1 which, for convenience, may be called the first phase. Here the liquid to be treated, a fermented fruit nice, for example, is shown occupying the space 0 in the lower part of the generators, the level of the liquid being just below the perforated supports or false bpttoms I). v I

While in this condition, and with the cock in the pipe 9 closed, the cock in one of the pipes e is opened to admit compressed air to one of the generators (the right-hand generator for example in Figure 2) while thecock in the corresponding pipe e in the other 80 generator is kept closed. Now, if the vent cock 7 be opened in the left-hand generator, the compressed air will drive the liquid from the right-hand generator into the lefthand generator and cause the porous material therein to become immersed in or charged with the liquid, the amount of liquid being so chosen that when one of the generators has become-emptied in the manner just described, liquid will completely fill the other generator, that is, will cause ,the porous material to becompletely immersed. Thereupon, the vent in the lefthand generator is closed and the compressed. air is shut off from the right-hand generator. This situation, illustrated in Figure 2, may be called the second phase.

The'cock in the communication 9 is now opened to \let the air pass from one gen- :erator to the other, thus permitting the'liq- 1m. uid to settle back in space a. and then, after closings id cock, compressed air is admitted to the le t-hand generator and the operation ,just described is reversed so as to immerse the porous material in-the right-hand genera-tor, this third phase being illustrated in Figure 3.

The cbckg is now opened again and the liquid allowed to settle back once more in the. space '0 in both generators whereupon 119 the situation is as represented in Figure 4,

the fourth phase, which is the same as the nished by opening cocks f and h to supply only enough air to replace the oxygen consumed as the fermentation proceeds, particularly at the start of the fermentation action. The air inlets h are located directly underneath the perforated false bottoms b and provided with cocks so as to open and close these inlets as desired.- It will be understood thatthese cocks are never open except when the generator is in its fourth phase illustrated in Figure 4. Thus, if it is desired to admit additional air forany purpose these cocks are opened together with the cocks in the vents f, thus permitting air to circulate through the porous material during whatever period these cocks may remain open. It will also be understood that to prevent evaporation losses, the generators should ;be kept tightly closed save in the exceptional cases where other considerations are more important. To further conserve the yield, means may be attachedto the vent pipes f to condense and retainany alcohol, acid and ester vapors which are entrained with the air vented from the generators during the operation of charging the porous material.

Figures 5-7 which disclose a single generator for practicing myv improved method, will be easily understood without much detail explanation.. The corresponding parts of this apparatus are marked with the same reference letters respectively as the parts of the apparatus illustrated in Figures 1-4. It will be seen, however, that the chamber 0 containing the liquid is isolated from the,

rest of the vessel by a partition z. ..;Referring to Figure 5, when compressed air is introduced through e, the liquid is driven up through a tube is open at the bottom and completely immerses the porous material as shown in Figured Figure 7 shows the liquid back again in the compartment 0 where,

for the liquid at the top, a valve m being provided which, when open, allows the liquid first to settle into the porous material by gravity, thus immersing the same as shown in Figure 9 while the vent f is open. When, now, this vent is closed and compressed air admitted through a, the liquid is driven out of the porous material and up through the pipe n the top of which opens into chamber 0 (Figure 10).

Other modifications ,and adaptations of which my improved method is capable will be understood without further description.

I claim as my invention:

1. A method of manufacturing vinegar by means of an' oxidizing gas within a closed vessel containing a porous medium, the said method consisting in introducing the oxidizing gas into the vessel so as to force the liquid to be treated into the porous medium and drive out the exhausted gas, draining the liquid out of said medium, allowing the same to stand without aeration beyond the necessary renewal of consumedoxygen, and then repeating the operation until the liquid is converted into vinegar.

2. In a method of manufacturing'vinegar within a closed vessel containing a porous medium, the step of charging the porous medium with the liquid to be treated by means of compressed air, whereby said liquid and medium are completely aerated and the rowth of slime-forming bacteria is prevented.

3. In a method of vinegar manufacture, placing the alcoholic wash to be converted into vinegar ,in a vessel with a porous medium at each end and forcing air alternately through each medium in opposite directions to drive the liquid first into one medium and then into. the other."

In testimony whereof, I have signed my 7 name to this specification this second day of July, 1925. r

. FRIGTZI NOLDIN. 

